Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee
International Mother Language Day
February 21st is being observed as International Mother Language Day since 2000 by UNESCO to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
February 21st is being observed as International Mother Language Day since 2000 by UNESCO to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
International
Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language
Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East
Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by
the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.
Languages
are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and
intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues
will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual
education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural
traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on
understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
As
globalization increases, languages of people of lesser number or power die.
Several languages are under severe strain to survive.
The
21st Century reminds us that, despite this inequality of power between our
mother tongues and the languages of power, we must not give up hope. We must be
conscious of the significance of our mother tongues, which give us identity;
which are repositories of culture and which, in the final analysis, make us
what we are.
Technology
can help to preserve and sustain a dyeing language, as wikipaedia experiemnts
worldwide has proved.
The
theme of the 2016 International Mother Language Day is “Quality education,
language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”
This
underlines the importance of mother languages for quality education and
linguistic diversity.
We
must recognise and nurture this power, in order to leave no one behind, to
craft a more just and sustainable future for all.
On
the occasion of the 17th International Mother Language Day, let's give utmost
priority to the mother tongue and mother language. But we have to be cautious about
chest thumping and jingoism, which at the long run proves counterproductive.
Why can't we preserve our heritage?
Outlook. 6 Feb 2016 issue has a story on Calcutta Film
Society (CFS). Founded by Satyajit Ray, Chidanada Dasgupta and others on Oct 5,
1947 it is the oldest film club of the country. Presently it "lies in
serious state of disrepair".
The same story is repeated for dozens of old institutions all
over the country. Go to any historical monument you will invariably find it in
a shambles, with ugly graffiti and waste heaps strewn around. Go to any old
institution- you will find it crumbling. The uncared look will sadden you.
Why are we as a nation so callus towards our heritage? The
negligence in most of the places is almost criminal. Ironically, we become very
touchy when somebody else points this out. Then we swear by our rich heritage. Politicians
of all colour milk it dry. But when it comes to doing something concrete, as
little as keeping the place clean and litter free we fail to do that.
Why can't we preserve our heritage? Why are we so callus? Why
don’t we have respect for history? One of the greatest paradoxes concerning us
is: we love our myths but not history.
Tail piece: Lie
A
60 year old billionaire came to the bar with his hot and beautiful 25 year old
wife.
Friend:
How did she marry you?
Man:
I lied about my age.
Friend:
You said 45?
Man:
No. I said 85…
20.2.2016
